Hair All Gone

The next morning, the rhythmic sound of Naruto's tree-pounding echoed through the grove by the river once more. It was an early start, and thankfully, there weren't many people around at this hour. If there had been, someone might have complained about the noise disturbing the peace.

Today, Kurama didn't need to call Naruto. The boy woke up right on time, without any prompting. After a quick wash and breakfast, he jogged to his training spot, eager to get started.

Thanks to the resilience of the Uzumaki clan, Naruto had returned home the previous night without any lingering injuries. His endurance seemed to have improved; he no longer felt pain while hitting the tree. It was as if his body had become numb to the discomfort. He could even let his mind wander, much like zoning out during a boring class in his past life.

"Naruto…"

"Grandpa stopped by to see you."

"Stop, stop, take a rest first."

The voice of Third Generation Hokage cut through Naruto's concentration. He glanced up, still hammering away at the tree.

Third Generation Hokage? What's he doing here?

Naruto was skeptical. He thought the old man must have come to check on him after seeing his intense training routine.

"Hey, stop for a moment! Don't hurt yourself!" Third Generation's voice was laced with concern.

Naruto, still doubtful, finally paused and looked over. "What's up, Grandpa?"

Third Generation Hokage had an almost sly grin on his face. He pulled out two scrolls and handed them to Naruto. "Look what I've got for you. Basic Ninjutsu—Clone Jutsu! And the Chakra Refining Method!"

Naruto's initial reaction was one of disbelief. "Are you serious? You're handing me these just like that?"

He mentally rolled his eyes. "Why not just give me the Flying Thunder God Jutsu or my mom's Sealing Techniques while you're at it?"

Despite his internal skepticism, Naruto put on an enthusiastic façade. "Thank you, Grandpa! I'll definitely work hard!"

Third Generation Hokage's face brightened with a genuine smile. He reached out to pat Naruto's head, but the boy dodged the gesture.

Naruto had always disliked the head pats. He felt like they were a bad omen for his growth.

"Hehehe..." Third Generation Hokage chuckled awkwardly at Naruto's reaction. "Well, hurry up and practice while school hasn't started yet. Grandpa will be waiting for your progress."

With that, the Hokage walked away, hands clasped behind his back, pondering if Naruto's passion for training would keep him from harming himself. The Third Generation was concerned that Naruto might not master Chakra Refinement or Clone Jutsu before school began, but he hoped the scrolls would help.

As soon as Third Generation Hokage left, Naruto eagerly unfurled the scrolls. The Clone Jutsu seemed a bit complex for him at this stage, so he skimmed it briefly and focused more on the Chakra Refining Method.

"Chakra in the human body…" Naruto read through the instructions carefully. After about twenty minutes, he crossed his legs and began to try refining Chakra.

Kurama, observing from the sealed space, was utterly baffled. "What on earth is this kid doing?"

The fox's frustration boiled over. "Kid, what are you doing?"

"Don't make any noise! I'm feeling something!" Naruto snapped back, trying to focus.

The fox groaned. "You're not going to get anywhere in that posture. You're cutting off your blood flow! If you can extract Chakra like that, you'll be a ghost!"

"Huh?" Naruto was taken aback. "Isn't this how you refine Chakra?"

He realized he had been influenced by too many fairy tales from his previous life. He thought there was a specific way to meditate for Chakra refinement.

"What posture should I use, then?"

Kurama sighed in exasperation. "There's no specific posture. Just be casual about it!"

"Okay..." Naruto reluctantly adjusted his position and began to refine Chakra in a more relaxed manner.

Kurama was somewhat relieved. At least the kid was willing to listen, even if his methods were strange.

A few moments later, Naruto felt a warmth spreading from his stomach. He noticed a hint of blue Chakra!

"Big fox!" he exclaimed. "I think I did it!"

"Shut up and concentrate!" Kurama snapped back. "You've barely distilled any Chakra. Don't get all excited yet!"

Kurama was more than a little frustrated. When he was Naruto's age, he'd never been so impatient. He didn't understand why this kid was making such a fuss over the basics.

Naruto took Kurama's advice to heart and refocused on his Chakra refinement. Determined not to let himself get distracted or fall asleep again, he worked diligently, feeling the warmth of Chakra build within him.